Does Your Stomach Drop When You Skydive?

Monday, July 21, 2014

Does Your Stomach Drop When You Skydive?

If you’ve ever been on a roller coaster, you’re familiar with the uncomfortable feeling of your stomach ‘dropping’ and ascending into your throat as you speed down the first hill. Many first time skydivers wonder, ‘does skydiving feel like a roller coaster? Fortunately, we can assure you that you don’t get that stomach drop feeling when you make a skydive.

When a roller coaster slowly clicks up the hill, its speed is just a few miles per hour. The sudden acceleration from 3mph to 40mph hurtling down the first hill is what causes your stomach to feel like it’s dropping and gives you that sick feeling.

girls about to experience stomach drop on roller coaster ride

What Does Skydiving Feel Like?

When making a skydive, most airplanes are flying at around 100mph. As you exit the plane, you will quickly transition into terminal velocity which is a stable feeling as you literally ride on air molecules. The transition from 100mph to approximately 120mph is so quick your that stomach doesn’t drop. So, what does it feel like to skydive? You won’t experience a feeling of falling, you’ll feel more like you are flying!

If skydiving from a hot air balloon, your stomach would certainly drop as you accelerate from 0mph to 120mph. It all depends on the speed you’re going at the start of your initial descent that makes the difference of how skydiving feels on your stomach.

At Skydive Carolina, we fly a Twin Otter and a King Air which allows for the quick transition and maximum enjoyment of the skydive experience.

If you’re worried about what it feels like to skydive, FEAR NOT! Your stomach will not drop when you jump from the plane! You will, however, feel completely exhilarated by the experience. Learn more about how YOU can make a first-time tandem skydive!